A review into the health service this week said there are too many hospitals for the 1.8 million population in Northern Ireland.

Patient and Client Council chief Maeve Hully added: “Often people simply need to know where to get advice and information on how to manage their illness to help avoid going to the emergency department.”

Mr Wells said despite sustained pressure in December 2014, with an increase of 6.6% in attendance at major emergency departments, health trusts delivered a 44.2% reduction in the number of people waiting over 12 hours compared with the previous December.